Douglas XB-31: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|American bomber project}}
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{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
|name=XB-31
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|type=[[Heavy bomber]]
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The '''Douglas XB-31''' ('''Douglas Model 332''') was the design submitted by [[Douglas Aircraft Company|Douglas]] after the request by the [[United States Army Air Forces]] for a very heavy [[bomber]] aircraft, the same request that led to the [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]], [[Lockheed XB-30]], and [[Consolidated B-32 Dominator]].
==Design and development==
Around 1938, United States Army General [[Henry H. Arnold|Henry H. "Hap" Arnold]], the head of the [[US Army Air Corps]] (USAAC), was growing alarmed at the possibility of war in Europe and in the Pacific. Hoping to be prepared for the long-term requirements of the Air Force, Arnold created a special committee chaired by Brigadier General [[W. G. Kilner]]; one of its members was [[Charles Lindbergh]]. The Douglas firm at the time was working on an even larger, 212 foot (64.6 meter) wingspan four-engined strategic bomber prototype airframe, the [[Douglas XB-19]], that made her maiden flight in late June 1941.
After a tour of ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' bases, Lindbergh became convinced that [[Nazi Germany]] was far ahead of other European nations. In a report in 1939, the committee made a number of recommendations, including development of new long-range heavy bombers. When war broke out in Europe, Arnold requested design studies from several companies on a Very Long-Range bomber capable of travelling 5,000 miles (8,000 km). Approval was granted on 2 December 1939.
Throughout 1939 and 1940 Douglas investigated designs of the Model 332 with different powerplants ([[Wright R-2600]], [[Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp|Pratt and Whitney R-2800]], [[Wright R-2160 Tornado|Wright R-2160]], [[Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone|Wright R-3350]]). All were designed to have roughly same operating range, with variations in the projected service ceiling.<ref>Buttler, Tony, and Griffith, Alan, 2015. ''American Secret Projects: Fighters, Bombers, and Attack Aircraft, 1937-1945.'' Manchester: Crecy Publishing. {{ISBN|978-1906537487}}.</ref>
The XB-31 design was rejected in favor of the B-29 and B-32 (along with the XB-30) because the USAAC found the B-29 superior to the Douglas and Lockheed designs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/b31.html |title = Douglas XB-31}}</ref>
==Specifications (Model 332F as designed)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref={{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
|prime units?=imp
<!--
General characteristics
-->
|crew=8
|length
|length
|length note=
|span
|span in=6
|span note=
|height ft=28
|height in=3
|height note=
|wing area sqft=1780
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=
|
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=106994
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=120000
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=4
|eng1 name=[[Wright R-3350-13 Duplex-Cyclone]]
|eng1 type=18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines
|eng1 hp=2200
|prop blade number=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
Performance
-->
|max speed mph=377
|max speed note=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed note=
|range miles=5370
|range note=
|combat range miles=
|combat range note=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling ft=31600
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading lb/sqft=41
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass={{cvt|0.066|hp/lb|kW/kg}}, later {{cvt|0.089|hp/lb|kW/kg}}
|more performance=
<!--
Armament
-->
|guns=<br/>
**
**
**1× 0.79 in (20 mm) [[autocannon|cannon]] in tail
|bombs=<br/>
**4x 2,000 lb (907 kg) bombs
**8x 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs
**16x 500 lb (227 kg) bombs
|rockets=
|missiles=
|hardpoints=
|hardpoint capacity=
|hardpoint rockets=
|hardpoint missiles=
|hardpoint bombs=
|hardpoint other=
|avionics=
}}
==See also==
{{Aircontent
|similar aircraft=
* [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]]
* [[Consolidated B-32 Dominator]]
* [[Lockheed XB-30]]
* [[Messerschmitt Me 264]]
|lists=
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* [[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
|see also=
}}
==References==
===
{{Reflist}}
===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* Francillon, René J. ''McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920''. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1979. {{ISBN
* Jones, Lloyd S. ''U.S. Bombers: B-1 1928 to B-1 1980s''. Fallbrook,
{{refend}}
==External links==
{{Douglas aircraft}}
{{USAF bomber aircraft}}
[[Category:Cancelled military aircraft projects of the United States]]
[[Category:Douglas aircraft|B-31]]
[[Category:Four-engined tractor aircraft|B-31, Douglas]]
[[Category:High-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Four-engined piston aircraft]]
|
Latest revision as of 13:03, 19 March 2022
XB-31 | |
---|---|
Role | Heavy bomber |
Manufacturer | Douglas Aircraft |
Status | Design only |
Primary user | United States Army Air Forces |
Number built | 0 |
The Douglas XB-31 (Douglas Model 332) was the design submitted by Douglas after the request by the United States Army Air Forces for a very heavy bomber aircraft, the same request that led to the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Lockheed XB-30, and Consolidated B-32 Dominator.
Design and development[edit]
Around 1938, United States Army General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, the head of the US Army Air Corps (USAAC), was growing alarmed at the possibility of war in Europe and in the Pacific. Hoping to be prepared for the long-term requirements of the Air Force, Arnold created a special committee chaired by Brigadier General W. G. Kilner; one of its members was Charles Lindbergh. The Douglas firm at the time was working on an even larger, 212 foot (64.6 meter) wingspan four-engined strategic bomber prototype airframe, the Douglas XB-19, that made her maiden flight in late June 1941.
After a tour of Luftwaffe bases, Lindbergh became convinced that Nazi Germany was far ahead of other European nations. In a report in 1939, the committee made a number of recommendations, including development of new long-range heavy bombers. When war broke out in Europe, Arnold requested design studies from several companies on a Very Long-Range bomber capable of travelling 5,000 miles (8,000 km). Approval was granted on 2 December 1939.
Throughout 1939 and 1940 Douglas investigated designs of the Model 332 with different powerplants (Wright R-2600, Pratt and Whitney R-2800, Wright R-2160, Wright R-3350). All were designed to have roughly same operating range, with variations in the projected service ceiling.[1]
The XB-31 design was rejected in favor of the B-29 and B-32 (along with the XB-30) because the USAAC found the B-29 superior to the Douglas and Lockheed designs.[2]
Specifications (Model 332F as designed)[edit]
Data from [citation needed]
General characteristics
- Crew: 8
- Length: 88 ft 8.5 in (27.038 m)
- Wingspan: 140 ft 6 in (42.82 m)
- Height: 28 ft 3 in (8.61 m)
- Wing area: 1,780 sq ft (165 m2)
- Gross weight: 106,994 lb (48,532 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 120,000 lb (54,431 kg)
- Powerplant: 4 × Wright R-3350-13 Duplex-Cyclone 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 2,200 hp (1,600 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 377 mph (607 km/h, 328 kn)
- Range: 5,370 mi (8,640 km, 4,670 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 31,600 ft (9,600 m)
- Wing loading: 41 lb/sq ft (200 kg/m2)
- Power/mass: 0.066 hp/lb (0.109 kW/kg), later 0.089 hp/lb (0.146 kW/kg)
Armament
- Guns:
- 6× .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns in remote ventral and dorsal turrets
- 1x machine gun in tail
- 1× 0.79 in (20 mm) cannon in tail
- Bombs:
- 4x 2,000 lb (907 kg) bombs
- 8x 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs
- 16x 500 lb (227 kg) bombs
See also[edit]
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References[edit]
Citations[edit]
- ^ Buttler, Tony, and Griffith, Alan, 2015. American Secret Projects: Fighters, Bombers, and Attack Aircraft, 1937-1945. Manchester: Crecy Publishing. ISBN 978-1906537487.
- ^ "Douglas XB-31".
Bibliography[edit]
- Francillon, René J. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-370-00050-1.
- Jones, Lloyd S. U.S. Bombers: B-1 1928 to B-1 1980s. Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers, Inc., 1974. ISBN 0-8168-9126-5.